Lifestyle
Akintunde Akinsehinwa: The Young Officer Who Died with Murtala Mohammed (November 11, 1944 – February 13, 1976)
Akintunde Akinsehinwa was born in 1944 in Ondo, Nigeria. A promising young soldier, he rose through the Nigerian Army ranks with exceptional speed and discipline. Known for his intelligence and reliability, Akinsehinwa was appointed as the aide-de-camp (ADC) to General Murtala Ramat Muhammed—making him the youngest officer ever to serve in that capacity in Nigeria’s history.
Early life
Akintunde Akinsehinwa was born in Ondo City in Ondo State, Nigeria on 11 November 1944. He started his early education in Owo and finished his secondary school education at Edopkolo Secondary School in Benin City, Nigeria where he obtained his Secondary School Leaving Certificate (WASC) in 1963. Upon completion of his studies Akinsehinwa moved to Ibadan in the western province of Nigeria where he worked as a clerk at the High Court.
Military career
At the commencement of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967, Akintunde Akinsehinwa was recruited by the Nigerian Army and trained as an officer cadet at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State. After six months of training, Akinsehinwa was commissioned by the Army as a second lieutenant and sent to the war front to join the famous 3rd Marine Commando Division (3MCDO) under the stewardship of “The Black Scorpion” – Colonel Benjamin Adekunle, where he participated in military offensive efforts on the Calabar front to quell the secession of the Biafran separatist movement.
After the war ended in 1970, Akinsehinwa chose to undergo further military training by taking Signal Officers Courses. Upon completion of his training he was promoted to rank of Lieutenant and posted to Arakan Signals Barracks in Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria as an officer of the Nigerian Army Signal Corps. While at Arakan, he was appointed as a staff officer to then Brigadier General Muhammed who was brigade commander of signals at the time. Brigadier General Muhammed was soon appointed as Minister of Communications by the Yakubu Gowon regime and took Akinsehinwa along with him as a personnel staff officer and technical assistant. On July 29, 1975, General Muhammed was made head of state (succeeding Gowon) by younger soldiers who wanted to ensure Nigeria’s return to democratic rule. He was not directly involved in the coup d’état that brought him to power, but he had played a prominent role in rallying northern officers behind the July 1966 coup that felled Aguiyi-Ironsi.
Upon becoming Head of State, Murtala appointed Akinsehinwa as his Aide-de-Camp (a role usually reserved for a senior officer such as a Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel). Muhammed citing Akinsehinwa’s hard work, wit and intelligence, appointed Akinsehinwa as Aide-de-Camp effectively making him the youngest (Age – 30) and lowest ranking presidential Aide-de-Camp in Nigerian history. In a short time, Muhammed’s policies won him broad popular support, and his decisiveness elevated him to the status of a national hero.
Death
On 13 February 1976, General Muhammed’s motorcade was ambushed in Lagos by coup plotters and assassins amid an abortive coup d’état. The coup plotters unleashed a hail of bullets on Muhammed’s black Mercedes Benz limousine (not bulletproof) killing him instantly. Muhammed’s driver and orderly were also killed instantly. However, Akinsehinwa survived the initial barrage of bullets and exited the limousine to return fire. Unfortunately, he was overpowered and eventually succumbed to a hail of bullets (an autopsy revealed six bullet wounds in his back). Akintunde Akinsehinwa at 31 years of age thus became the first aide-de-camp to die in the line of duty while serving a Nigerian head of state.
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A legacy of education, empowerment, and excellence in shaping Nigeria’s first generation of female leaders.
Historical Background
St. Anne’s School, Ibadan, stands as one of Nigeria’s most enduring symbols of female education and empowerment. Its foundation is deeply rooted in the Christian missionary movement of the 19th century, particularly the efforts of the Church Missionary Society (CMS).
The school as it exists today was born in 1950, following the merger of two pioneering institutions — CMS Girls’ Seminary, Lagos (1869) and Kudeti Girls’ School, Ibadan (1899). This unification created the first secondary school in Nigeria established exclusively for the education of girls, marking a transformative chapter in Nigeria’s educational history.
Origins: CMS Girls’ Seminary, Lagos (Founded 1869)
The CMS Girls’ Seminary was established in 1869 by the Anglican Church Missionary Society in Lagos. It was Nigeria’s first school to provide formal secondary education for girls, a revolutionary concept at the time when Western education was largely reserved for boys.
The seminary’s mission was clear — to train Christian girls as teachers, mothers, and community leaders. The curriculum balanced religious instruction with academic and domestic education, preparing young women to contribute meaningfully to society.
Many of its early students were daughters of freed slaves and early Christian converts, reflecting the CMS’s commitment to social reform and moral education.
Expansion: Kudeti Girls’ School, Ibadan (Founded 1899)
By the late 19th century, the need for similar institutions outside Lagos led to the establishment of Kudeti Girls’ School in Ibadan in 1899. The school was founded by Anglican missionaries who recognised Ibadan’s growing importance as a major Yoruba city and an educational hub.
Kudeti Girls’ School continued the CMS tradition of offering sound academic and moral training, nurturing young women who would later become teachers, nurses, and administrators during the colonial period.
The 1950 Merger: Birth of St. Anne’s School, Ibadan
In 1950, the Anglican Church decided to merge the two schools — CMS Girls’ Seminary, Lagos, and Kudeti Girls’ School, Ibadan — into one unified institution. The new school was named St. Anne’s School, Ibadan, and it was located on the Kudeti site.
The merger symbolised the Anglican mission’s dedication to consolidating female education under a single, well-equipped institution. St. Anne’s quickly gained a reputation for academic excellence, discipline, and moral integrity, producing graduates who went on to break barriers in various fields.
Academic Excellence and Alumni Achievements
St. Anne’s School became a leading light in West African education. Its alumnae include some of Nigeria’s first female pioneers in various professions:
Nigeria’s first female science graduate
Nigeria’s first female Chief Judge of Lagos State
Nigeria’s first female novelist
These remarkable achievements underscore the school’s vision — to raise women who are both intellectually and morally upright. The institution’s rigorous academic curriculum, combined with a focus on leadership and social responsibility, continues to distinguish its students.
Cultural and Religious Influence
Beyond academics, St. Anne’s School has played a central role in promoting moral and spiritual education. Rooted in the Anglican ethos, the school emphasises Christian values, discipline, and community service. Over the decades, it has hosted generations of students who have upheld these principles, contributing to Nigeria’s socio-cultural and religious landscape.
Present Day and Legacy
Today, St. Anne’s School, Ibadan, remains one of Nigeria’s most prestigious girls’ schools. It continues to operate under the Anglican Church’s supervision and maintains strong alumni associations both locally and internationally.
The school’s historic architecture, serene environment, and consistent academic record serve as living testaments to its enduring mission — educating women for service, leadership, and faith.
As Nigeria advances in education and gender equality, St. Anne’s School stands as a proud reminder of the country’s earliest efforts to empower women through learning.
References
1. St. Anne’s School, Ibadan – Official School Records and Alumni Association Archives
2. Oduyoye, Modupe. The Church Missionary Society and the Development of Female Education in Nigeria (1869–1950), Ibadan University Press, 1988.
3. Ajayi, J. F. Ade. Christian Missions in Nigeria 1841–1891: The Making of a New Elite, Longman, 1965.
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Lifestyle
Princess Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola: The Nigerian Royal Who Served as a Wartime Nurse (PHOTOS)
A pioneer of compassion and courage whose service redefined the legacy of African women during World War II.
Early Life and Royal Heritage
Princess Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola was born into the royal family of Abeokuta, Nigeria, as the daughter of Oba Sir Ladapo Samuel Ademola II, the Alake of Egbaland. Her royal lineage placed her among the most prominent Yoruba families of her time. Yet, rather than living a life of luxury, she chose a path of service — dedicating her life to nursing and humanitarian care.
Her early life reflected the values of discipline and community that defined the Egba monarchy. Like many members of the educated Nigerian elite of the early 20th century, she was sent abroad for professional training, where she would later distinguish herself in one of the most challenging periods of modern history.
Training at Guy’s Hospital, London
Princess Adenrele Ademola began her nursing career at Guy’s Hospital, one of London’s most prestigious medical institutions. She trained rigorously and, in 1941, she qualified as a state-registered nurse.
Following this achievement, she obtained additional credentials from the Central Midwives Board, expanding her qualifications to include midwifery — a rare dual certification for African women in Britain at the time. Her academic and professional excellence made her one of the earliest Nigerian royals to earn medical credentials in the United Kingdom.
Wartime Service and the London Blitz
When the Second World War broke out, Princess Adenrele Ademola remained in London and joined the ranks of medical professionals who treated casualties during the Blitz — the relentless bombing of the city by German forces between 1940 and 1941.
She worked in several hospitals across London, including Guy’s Hospital and other wartime medical units, providing care to both soldiers and civilians. Her service under the harsh wartime conditions demonstrated extraordinary courage and dedication, earning her deep respect from her colleagues and patients alike.
At a time when colonial subjects were often overlooked in British public life, Princess Adenrele stood as a proud symbol of African contribution, resilience, and professional excellence.
“Nurse Ademola” – The Lost Wartime Film
In 1943, her remarkable story inspired a short film titled “Nurse Ademola”, produced by the Colonial Film Unit. The film was part of Britain’s wartime propaganda initiative, designed to highlight the contributions of individuals from across the British Empire to the war effort.
The film portrayed her daily life as a nurse in London, her interactions with patients and colleagues, and her unwavering commitment to service amidst the challenges of war. It was shown across West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, to encourage women and colonial subjects to join essential services and support the Allied cause.
Unfortunately, Nurse Ademola is now considered a lost film, with no known surviving copies. Nonetheless, it remains an invaluable part of colonial-era cinematic history and a rare example of early African representation in British media.
Later Career and Legacy
After the war, Princess Adenrele Ademola continued her nursing career, serving in hospitals both in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Her career spanned over three decades, during which she became a role model for African women entering the nursing profession.
Through her work, she demonstrated that nobility was not merely a matter of birth, but of service, compassion, and courage. She inspired generations of Nigerian women to pursue education and careers in healthcare, long before such paths were common.
Today, her story is studied within the broader history of African women’s contributions to global service, particularly within the context of World War II and British colonial history.
A Forgotten Icon of African History
Despite her royal heritage and international achievements, Princess Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola’s story remains relatively unknown in Nigeria. Historians and film archivists continue to search for surviving reels or documentation of Nurse Ademola, viewing it as a crucial artefact of African presence in wartime Britain.
Her life bridges two worlds — the royal traditions of Yoruba culture and the professional modernity of post-war Britain. As such, she embodies a form of quiet heroism that continues to resonate in narratives of African women’s resilience.
References
1. Imperial War Museum, London – “Nurse Ademola” (Colonial Film Unit, 1943) Archive Notes.
2. British Film Institute (BFI) – Colonial Film: Moving Images of the British Empire Database.
Nigerian Royal and nurse Princess Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola with a young patient on an eye care ward during her nursing training at Guy’s Hospital, in Southwark, London, England, 3rd January 1938. Princess Adenrele Ademola is the daughter of Ladapo Ademola, the Alake of Abeokuta. (Photo by Becker/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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